Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
EPABrett Favre might be fishing, but the Vikings should not take the bait.
Another Favre Watch has commenced. ESPN reported Tuesday that the retired quarterback plans to meet with Vikings coach Brad Childress at an undisclosed location this week to discuss another possible return to the NFL. The Vikings would require Favre to participate in all offseason minicamps, as well as training camp.
According to the report, Favre has not been working out and hasn't undergone surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon in his throwing arm. Still, the thought of having Favre at quarterback intrigues Childress. And the thought of playing the Packers certainly intrigues Favre.
Before the Vikings consider signing Favre, they should take a long look at his last four games with the Jets. Favre threw two touchdown passes and eight interceptions during that stretch as the Jets faded and missed the playoffs.
Yes, Favre played quite well at times in 2008. But he also played poorly at times, particularly late in the season. That often happens to aging athletes, even those headed to the Hall of Fame like Favre. Finishing every season becomes a challenge. Consistency becomes elusive. Every ache takes longer to heal.
It is easy to see what attracts Favre to the Vikings. Childress is a friend. His offensive system suits Favre's strengths. The Vikings are a contender with a solid defense and a great running back in Adrian Peterson. The Vikings are a better fit than the Jets were in '08. And the Vikings play in the NFC North, giving Favre two games against a Packers organization he awkwardly divorced last summer.
However, there is no guarantee Favre can take the playoff-caliber Vikings and make them a Super Bowl contender. In fact, the evidence suggests otherwise.
In three of his last four seasons, Favre has thrown at least as many interceptions as touchdowns. His great 2007 season with the Packers looks more like a last hurrah than something he can duplicate.
|
Favre turns 40 years old in October, and a part of him probably will want to play when he turns 50. He loves football and always plays with passion, and such athletes usually have the most trouble walking away.
Favre might have unfinished business with Packers general manager Ted Thompson, but that is not the Vikings' concern. They made the playoffs without Favre last season. They traded for a quarterback, Sage Rosenfels, this offseason who might be an upgrade over last year's starter, Tarvaris Jackson. If the Vikings sign Favre, Rosenfels should grab a clipboard because Favre never will be anyone's backup.
Meanwhile, where Favre walks the media follows in step. The extra media attention, the extra scrutiny, the extra second-guessing and the possible friction in the locker room all would test Childress and his players.
Some Jets grew plenty tired of The Favre Show. Once they started losing, resentment rose to the surface. Chemistry is important. It's a lesson Cowboys owner Jerry Jones learned the hard way, finally giving up on Terrell Owens this offseason simply to make the team more harmonious.
Maybe Childress and Favre will meet and realize they are better off remaining friends rather than becoming co-workers. Favre should have thrown his last pass for the Packers. And Childress should take a pass on bringing Favre to the Vikings.
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
 | Slide show |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Super Bowl XLVI shots See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots more photos |
 | Video: Football from NBC Sports |
 Getty Images |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
